Ticket-based trial account

Abstract

Disclosed herein are techniques and equipment for providing a temporary ID for a player tracking account. The temporary ID may be created by a first player with a first level of access to a first player tracking account. The temporary ID may be used by a second player to gain a second level of access to the player tracking account. The second level of access may be less than the first level of access.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wager gaming method comprising:
 receiving an input indicating a first player tracking account; 
 receiving an input authenticating the first player tracking account, the input authenticating the first player tracking account being different from the input indicating the first player tracking account; 
 providing a first level of access to the first player tracking account after the input indicating the first player tracking account and the input authenticating the first player tracking account are received; 
 receiving, while the first level of access is provided, an input indicating a request for a first temporary ID associated with the first player tracking account; 
 issuing the first temporary ID; 
 receiving an input indicating the first temporary ID; 
 providing, without requiring authentication of the first player tracking account and responsive to the input indicating the first temporary ID, a second level of access to the first player tracking account, wherein the second level of access is less than the first level of access. 
 
     
     
       2. The wager gaming method of  claim 1 , wherein the first level of access:
 permits accrual of points or awards to the first player tracking account, 
 permits issuance of temporary IDs, including the first temporary ID, 
 permits spending or redemption of points or awards from the first player tracking account, and 
 permits access to personal data or authentication data of a first player associated with the first player tracking account, and 
 
       the second level of access:
 permits accrual of points or awards to the first player tracking account, 
 does not permit issuance of a secondary temporary ID, 
 does not permit spending or redemption of points or awards from the first player tracking account, and 
 does not permit access to personal data or authentication data of the first player associated with the first player tracking account. 
 
     
     
       3. The wager gaming method of  claim 2 , further comprising offering, after the second level of access to the first player tracking account is provided, to open a second player tracking account associated with a player using the first temporary ID to which the player will have the first level of access. 
     
     
       4. The wager gaming method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving an input indicating that the player accepts the offer; 
 requesting account data sufficient to create the second player tracking account; 
 receiving the account data sufficient to create the second player tracking account; 
 creating the second player tracking account; and 
 transferring points or awards accrued to the first player tracking account under the second level of access by the player to the second player tracking account. 
 
     
     
       5. The wager gaming method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving an input indicating that the player accepts the offer; 
 requesting account data sufficient to create the second player tracking account; 
 receiving the account data sufficient to create the second player tracking account; 
 creating the second player tracking account; and 
 duplicating, in the second player tracking account, points or awards accrued to the first player tracking account under the second level of access by the player. 
 
     
     
       6. The wager gaming method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving an input indicating that the player accepts the offer; 
 requesting account data sufficient to create the second player tracking account; 
 receiving the account data sufficient to create the second player tracking account; 
 creating the second player tracking account; and 
 providing points or an award to the first player tracking account. 
 
     
     
       7. The wager gaming method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 disallowing all access to the first player tracking account under the first temporary ID after a predetermined period of time has elapsed; and 
 offering to open a second player tracking account associated with a player using the first temporary ID to which the player will have the first level of access. 
 
     
     
       8. A gaming machine comprising:
 an input device; 
 a temporary ID reading device; 
 a master gaming controller; 
 a temporary ID issuance device; and 
 a communications interface, wherein the input device, the temporary ID reading device; the communications interface, the temporary ID issuance device, and the master gaming controller are communicatively connected and configured to:
 receive an input indicating a temporary ID via the temporary ID reading device, wherein the temporary ID is associated with a first player tracking account and was created in response to a request made while the first player tracking account was accessed using a first level of access; and 
 provide, without requiring authentication of the first player tracking account and responsive to receiving the input indicating the temporary ID, a second level of access to the first player tracking account, wherein the second level of access is less than the first level of access. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The gaming machine of  claim 8 , wherein the first level of access:
 permits accrual of points or awards to the first player tracking account, 
 permits issuance of temporary IDs, including the temporary ID, 
 permits spending or redemption of points or awards from the first player tracking account, and 
 permits access to personal data or authentication data of a first player associated with the first player tracking account, and 
 
       the second level of access:
 permits accrual of points or awards to the first player tracking account, 
 does not permit issuance of a secondary temporary ID, 
 does not permit spending or redemption of points or awards from the first player tracking account, and 
 does not permit access to personal data or authentication data of the first player associated with the first player tracking account. 
 
     
     
       10. The gaming machine of  claim 9 , wherein the input device, the temporary ID reading device, the communications interface, the temporary ID issuance device, and the master gaming controller are further configured to offer to open a second player tracking account associated with a player using the temporary ID to which the player will have the first level of access. 
     
     
       11. The gaming machine of  claim 10 , wherein the input device, the temporary ID reading device, the communications interface, the temporary ID issuance device, and the master gaming controller are further configured to:
 receive an input via the input device indicating that the offer is accepted; 
 request account data sufficient to create the second player tracking account; and 
 transmit the account data to a player tracking server. 
 
     
     
       12. The gaming machine of  claim 8 , wherein the input device, the temporary ID reading device, the communications interface, the temporary ID issuance device, and the master gaming controller are further configured to:
 disallow all access to the first player tracking account under the temporary ID after a predetermined period of time has elapsed; and 
 offer to open a second player tracking account associated with a player using the temporary ID to which the player will have the first level of access. 
 
     
     
       13. A wager gaming system comprising:
 an input device; 
 a temporary ID issuance device; 
 a temporary ID reading device; and 
 a player tracking server, wherein the input device, the temporary ID issuance device, the temporary ID reading device, and the player tracking server are communicatively connected and configured to:
 receive an input indicating a first player tracking account; 
 receive an input authenticating the first player tracking account, the input authenticating the first player tracking account being different from the input indicating the first player tracking account; 
 provide a first level of access to the first player tracking account after the input indicating the first player tracking account and the input authenticating the first player tracking account are received; 
 receive, while the first level of access is provided, an input via the input device indicating a request for a first temporary ID associated with the first player tracking account; 
 issue the first temporary ID using the temporary ID issuance device; 
 receive an input indicating the first temporary ID via the temporary ID reading device; 
 provide, without requiring authentication of the first player tracking account and responsive to receiving the input indicating the first temporary ID, a second level of access to the first player tracking account, wherein the second level of access is less than the first level of access. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The wager gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein the first level of access:
 permits accrual of points or awards to the first player tracking account, 
 permits issuance of temporary IDs, including the first temporary ID, 
 permits spending or redemption of points or awards from the first player tracking account, and 
 permits access to personal data or authentication data of a first player associated with the first player tracking account, and 
 
       the second level of access:
 permits accrual of points or awards to the first player tracking account, 
 does not permit issuance of a secondary temporary ID, 
 does not permit spending or redemption of points or awards from the first player tracking account, and 
 does not permit access to personal data or authentication data of the first player associated with the first player tracking account. 
 
     
     
       15. The wager gaming system of  claim 14 , wherein the input device, the temporary ID issuance device, the temporary ID reading device, and the player tracking server are further configured to: offer, after the second level of access to the first player tracking account is provided, to open a second player tracking account associated with a player using the first temporary ID to which the player will have the first level of access. 
     
     
       16. The wager gaming system of  claim 15 , wherein the input device, the temporary ID issuance device, the temporary ID reading device, and the player tracking server are further configured to:
 receive an input indicating that the player accepts the offer; 
 request account data sufficient to create the second player tracking account; 
 receive the account data sufficient to create the second player tracking account; 
 create the second player tracking account; and 
 transfer points or awards accrued to the first player tracking account under the second level of access by the player to the second player tracking account. 
 
     
     
       17. The wager gaming system of  claim 15 , wherein the input device, the temporary ID issuance device, the temporary ID reading device, and the player tracking server are further configured to:
 receive an input indicating that the player accepts the offer; 
 request account data sufficient to create the second player tracking account; 
 receive the account data sufficient to create the second player tracking account; 
 create the second player tracking account; and 
 duplicate, in the second player tracking account, points or awards accrued to the first player tracking account under the second level of access by the player. 
 
     
     
       18. The wager gaming system of  claim 15 , wherein the input device, the temporary ID issuance device, the temporary ID reading device, and the player tracking server are further configured to:
 receive an input indicating that the player accepts the offer; 
 request account data sufficient to create the second player tracking account; 
 receive the account data sufficient to create the second player tracking account; 
 create the second player tracking account; and 
 provide points or an award to the first player tracking account. 
 
     
     
       19. The wager gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein the input device, the temporary ID issuance device, the temporary ID reading device, and the player tracking server are further configured to:
 disallow all access to the first player tracking account under the first temporary ID after a predetermined period of time has elapsed; and 
 offer to open a second player tracking account associated with a player using the first temporary ID to which the player will have the first level of access.